Dr. Nisha Branch has been selected as the Keynote Speaker for the 329th Commencement Proceedings at Abington Friends School.

Raised in Elkins Park, Nisha, is a lifer and a graduate of Abington Friends School's Class of 1996. Nisha went on to complete her undergraduate degree at The University of Virginia, earning a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology, with an emphasis in Pre-Medical Studies. She later received a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from the George Washington University (GWU) School of Public Health and Health Services while working as the Assistant of IT for the GWU Graduate school of Education and Human Services. Nisha then went on to attend Howard University College of Medicine earning her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2013. While at Howard, she was elected and served as the National President of the Student National Medical Association and the National Medical Association’s Student Trustee. She completed her internship at Howard University Hospital, and trained in orthopedic surgery before practicing at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

In 2022, Nisha changed specialties and returned home to complete her training, this time in Anesthesiology at Temple University Hospital, graduating in 2025. She is currently a Pain Management Fellow at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and will go on to practice anesthesiology and pain medicine.

Nisha will be introduced by Percy Blanche Kent.

Speakers for the Class of 2026

Harrison Allen Dowdy

Jarius Shan Ford